CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9286, 23 August 1893, Page 6

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

The ordinary quarterly meeting of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce was held ab the Insurance Buildings yesterday afternoon. Mr. A. Porter presided. LANDING of goods. The Chairman said there was a tendency on the part of the Harbour Board to take over the receiving of cargo. A number of gentlemen were opposed to this, as they considered there would be considerable extra expense, and the increased convenience that would be secured would nob be sufficient to make up for the extra cost. He did not see why the Auckland officials should nob be able to deal with tho receiv? ing of goods as well as the officials of other centres. However, some new departure must soon take place. Vessels were at times discharging day and night, and a considerable quantity of goods was thereby destroyed. marine insurance. Mr. Porter stated that with regard to tho Marine Insurance Bill there were a great many insurance papers that never reached the coiony, and therefore it seemed hard that goods should be delayed until such papers arrived. He moved, " That in the opinion of this Chamber the proposal of the Hon. Mr. Reeves in reference to producing insurance papers prior to passing goods inwards will be found harassing to importers if carried into effect, the provision that ab present exists for stamping existent policies will be found sufficient protection to Government."

Mr. A. 11. Nathan thought the present stamp duty was too high. The Government had found out some time ago that the stamp duty was being evaded, and they therefore desired that the stamped policies should be shown to the Customs department. Mr. J. Reid thought they should get more information before passing the resolution proposed. Mr. Porter said the question was not so much one of costs as the difficulty which would arise in cases where the policies did nob come in tho same vessel as the goods. The motion was carried. PROPOSED GUM DUTY.

! Mr. Porter moved, "That in the opinion of this Chamber the proposal contained in the Gum Commissioners report to charge a sum of £3 a ton as export duty will be a hardship to those engaged in the industry, and should nob bo agreed to." He said it was nob only a question of the £3 duty, but the men would have to resort and remove the chips in such a way as to reduce the weight. A considerable amount of gum would become quite unsaleable. It had been said that it would only be necessary to point out to foreign buyers that the price had been raised. Now the average wages "of gumdiggers was 27s aweek, and it was too much to charge them £3 per annum to dig gum. Besides tho amount that would be derived from the duty would go a very small way to make roads over an area of 1,000,000 acres of land. He hoped the Chamber would oppose any export duty. Mr. Alfred Nathan said the duty would certainly fall upon the gumdiggers, who already had a hard life. Exports should be encouraged rather than discouraged. Mr. A. H. Nathan pointed out that the price of gum was not fixed in New Zealand, but in London and New York. The buyers in these cities did not take into consideration the amount of duty charged in New Zealand. The Government had as much right to place a duty upon wool or frozen meat. The duty would fall upon the diggers. Mr. G. Aickin said the proposed duty was a form of suicidal insanity. There always seemed in this country to bo some way of interfering with any promising local industry, either by way of a duty upon exports «or by labour laws. He felt sure that any duty on gum would have to bo borne entirely by this community. The motion wat carried unanimously. railway control.

Mr. Porter moved, " That no Minister of the Crown bo appointed with the powers asked for under the proposed Railway Act Amendment Bill, 1803, "as such a Bill would {rive him controlling powers, and all political control should be avoided." He pointed out that ib was proposed to give the Minister a seat on the Board of Commissioners with a deliberative and a casting vote. A Minister of the Crown was different from any ordinary person, and he could nob be on the Board unless for a political purpose. He thought it would be a mistake to take the management away from a non-political Board, and place ib in the hands of a political Board. The present management had acted most satisfactorily. This was seconded by Mr. A. H. Nathan and carried unanimously.

otorohanga land court. Mr. Porter moved, "That the Government be requested to open a Lands Court at Otorohanga ab an early date, for the completion of titles of the large blocks of land purchased by the Government in that locality, so as to facilitate settlement." This was carried unanimously. ADVERTISING THE COLONY. Mr. J. H. Houghton, a visitor, made a few remarks urging upon the Chamber of Commerce to take steps in the direction of advertising the advantages of the colony in the same way as the Americans and Canadians advertised their countries. Mr. Porter admitted that New Zealand was greatly behindhand in this respect.